with an intent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with an intent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a stated goal or purpose. For example: She baked the cake with an intent to surprise her mother.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

An advertiser might simply buy users with an intent to buy basketball shoes or an intent to travel to Europe.

TechCrunch

"Walking into Topshop with an intent to cause damage, [means] you're actually a burglar," he said.

The Guardian

Mr. Harrington ran backward with an intent look on his face, occasionally colliding with people and falling down.

The New York Times

But he denied eight charges of possessing those items with an intent to endanger life at Newcastle College.

Independent

The Professional Footballers Associationn also questioned whether the information was leaked with an intent to hurt Preston's chances.

Independent

Mr. Babcock said parents can also decide to create a soft bank with an intent to educate their children.

The New York Times

Lang's second piece for BRB, following Lyric Pieces, it's an intelligent work, with an intent, thrumming score by Jakub Ciupinski.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Consistent with an intent-to-treat approach, all available data for participants as originally randomly assigned, were retained.

BMC Pediatrics

Both PFS and OS were estimated by the Kaplan Meier method with an intent-to-treat analysis.

British Journal of Cancer

Women who are willing to engage in sexual intercourse with an intent-to-attain orgasm at least twice/week.

BioMed Research International

We randomly assigned the patients to an RUL ECT treatment dosed at 5 or 2.5 times seizure threshold with an intent-to-treat design.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "with an intent", ensure the intent is clearly defined and aligns logically with the action being described. For example: "She studied diligently with an intent to excel in her exams."

Common error

Avoid using "with an intent" when simply describing an action without a specific goal. Instead of saying "He walked with an intent", which is vague, specify the intent: "He walked with an intent to clear his mind".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with an intent" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the purpose or intention behind an action. Ludwig provides examples where it clarifies the motivation or goal behind a particular action or decision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "with an intent" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that serves to specify the purpose or goal behind an action. As Ludwig confirms, it appears most often in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the intended purpose is clear and directly relates to the action being described. Alternatives such as "with a purpose" or "in order to" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with a purpose

Changes the article and noun but preserves the core meaning of having a goal.

with a goal

Replaces "intent" with "goal", a more general term for desired outcome.

intending to

Transforms the phrase into a gerund phrase, emphasizing the action of intending.

with the aim of

Uses a more formal expression indicating the objective of an action.

in order to

Expresses purpose directly, focusing on the reason for an action.

for the purpose of

A formal alternative that clearly states the reason behind an action.

with the objective of

Similar to "with the aim of" but uses "objective" to emphasize a specific target.

having the intention of

Emphasizes the state of possessing an intent before acting.

designed to

Highlights the planned or deliberate nature of an action or object.

with a view to

A British English expression indicating a specific future outcome in mind.

FAQs

How can I use "with an intent" in a sentence?

Use "with an intent" to describe an action performed with a specific purpose or goal in mind. For example: "The company launched the new product "with an intent to" increase market share."

What are some alternatives to "with an intent"?

You can use phrases like "with a purpose", "with a goal", or "in order to" as alternatives to "with an intent", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "with intent" or "with an intent"?

"With intent" and "with an intent" are both grammatically correct, but "with intent" is generally preferred when referring to a general purpose or state of mind. "With an intent" is used when referring to a more specific, defined purpose.

What's the difference between "with the intent of" and "intending to"?

"With the intent of" is a prepositional phrase that describes a purpose, whereas "intending to" is a gerund phrase that emphasizes the act of intending. For example: "She wrote the letter with the intent of clarifying her position." versus "She was intending to write a letter clarifying her position."